No it's not surprising, we were well warned this would not only happen but increase.
It's ALL part of positioning the churches for unity in the faiths of all religions.
Common Christian vocabulary is “borrowed” and used to entice the uninformed......”Spirituality” the new buzz word from New Agers to even satanism. All which is promoted to “sell” the latest “evolving” religion where all will accept all manner hocus pocus..
Times and people really have not changed.
The quote:
“Zacharias was asked in this January 2012 interview:
“If in your book, you wrote how Eastern mysticism is completely erroneous, why did you state in one of your speaking engagements that Henri Nouwen was one of the greatest saints who lived in our time, when Nouwen is known to have been influenced by Thomas Merton and others who practice Eastern mysticism? (source)
“Here is his answer:
“I regret having said that. At the time, I based my comment on Nouwen’s story of the prodigal son which I felt was on target. But later as I learned more about Nouwen and Merton, I found their writings to be very troubling. I believe that doctrinally, Nouwen lost his way.
“I used to read Malcolm Muggeridge too until I read his book, “Jesus Rediscovered”. Muggeridge was morally and culturally a good thinker, but he was not theologically sound. (source)”
http://apprising.org/2012/08/11/ravi-zacharias-clarifies-calling-henri-nouwen-great-saint/
when you arbitrarily decide to change the truth 1,600 years after it has been established....what else would one expect????